Children deserve much better

Published: Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 11:38 p.m.

Louisiana ranks second to last in a national study on child well-being, a place it’s held onto for more than a decade.

Terrebonne and Lafourche fared better than the state average, but better than average in a state that almost landed in last place is nothing to cheer about.

It’s especially sobering when you realize just what the annual survey endeavors to measure: child poverty, abuse, education and health statistics.

This study, conducted annually by the Baltimore, Maryland-based Annie E. Casey Foundation, says our children are getting too little of the things they need — like education and good health — too much of the things we want to spare them — like poverty and abuse.

Take a look at these statistics:

-- 23 percent of local children live in poverty.

-- 11 percent are at risk because they have a lower-than-desired birth rate.

-- More than a quarter of our high-schoolers don’t graduate on time.

-- 94 out of every 1,000 babies are born to a teenage mother.

-- 11 percent of Louisiana’s teens are unemployed and not in school.

-- 36 percent of the state’s eighth-graders lack basic math skills.

-- 77 percent of fourth-graders aren’t reading at the level they should.

The list goes on and on, but the gist is clear: Terrebonne, Lafourche and, of course, Louisiana could be doing more for their children.

There’s been some improvement on the educational front, primarily because a push for early-childhood education and reforms intended to improve education quality.

As one advocate said, quality early education has positive effects on a child long into adulthood.

It’s important that efforts continue in that realm, but equal attention should be given to other aspects of our children’s life.

The children are our future, and we must nurture and protect them if we want Terrebonne and Lafourche to continue thrive.

Ranking higher than one of the worst states in the country is not good enough.

<p>It's happened again. </p><p>Louisiana ranks second to last in a national study on child well-being, a place it's held onto for more than a decade.</p><p>Terrebonne and Lafourche fared better than the state average, but better than average in a state that almost landed in last place is nothing to cheer about.</p><p>It's especially sobering when you realize just what the annual survey endeavors to measure: child poverty, abuse, education and health statistics. </p><p>This study, conducted annually by the Baltimore, Maryland-based Annie E. Casey Foundation, says our children are getting too little of the things they need — like education and good health — too much of the things we want to spare them — like poverty and abuse.</p><p>Take a look at these statistics:</p><p>-- 23 percent of local children live in poverty. </p><p>-- 11 percent are at risk because they have a lower-than-desired birth rate. </p><p>-- More than a quarter of our high-schoolers don't graduate on time.</p><p>-- 94 out of every 1,000 babies are born to a teenage mother. </p><p>-- 11 percent of Louisiana's teens are unemployed and not in school. </p><p>-- 36 percent of the state's eighth-graders lack basic math skills. </p><p>-- 77 percent of fourth-graders aren't reading at the level they should.</p><p>The list goes on and on, but the gist is clear: Terrebonne, Lafourche and, of course, Louisiana could be doing more for their children.</p><p>There's been some improvement on the educational front, primarily because a push for early-childhood education and reforms intended to improve education quality.</p><p>As one advocate said, quality early education has positive effects on a child long into adulthood.</p><p>It's important that efforts continue in that realm, but equal attention should be given to other aspects of our children's life.</p><p>The children are our future, and we must nurture and protect them if we want Terrebonne and Lafourche to continue thrive.</p><p>Ranking higher than one of the worst states in the country is not good enough.</p><p>We can do better than that.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of</p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>